Lake Bunyonyi in kabale
The name Bunyonyi means “a place with little bird” in reference to the fact that the lake and its islands are home to an amazing collection of bird species. It is one of the deepest lakes in Africa. Lake Bunyonyi area has a generally cool climate throughout the year with enough rain that support the lush green hills surrounding the lake. It is the perfect place for relaxation after visiting Uganda’s great national parks like Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Lake Bunyonyi is made up twenty nine islands among which include Bushara, Njuyeera, Bwama and the infamous Punishment Island (Akampene). Among the Bakiga in the area, any girl who got pregnant before marriage was taken and abandoned in Akampene Island to die of hunger or drowning (girls were not taught how to swim). Getting pregnant was an abomination then because no one would pay bird price for a girl who had gotten pregnant before marriage. The intention of leaving the girl to die in the island was to send a strong message to the rest that getting pregnant before marriage was unacceptable. Nothing would be done to the man who made the girl pregnant. The girl couldn’t identify the man who impregnated her for fear of being left to die. Some of the girls were rescued by the men who had made them pregnant, those who had a secret crush on them or poor bachelors who couldn’t afford bride price. This primitive practice was abandoned by the late 1940’s after the British colonial government outlawed it. A few of the survivors who were rescued and survived the ordeal still live today. Bwama Island also hides a dark past. When the English missionary Leopard sharp came to Uganda in 1921, he noticed that Bwama Island was uninhabited. He turned the island into a center for treating leprosy patients by providing housing and medical facilities. Sharp stayed in nearby Njuyeera Island with his family. Bwama Island became a leprosy colony attracting many sufferers who had faced isolation in their communities. Bushara Island on the other hands has had an easier past although the original beautiful trees in the area were wiped away by locals to clear ground for agriculture. The Lake Bunyonyi Development Company has helped plant a large eucalyptus forest while also running several tourism related activities in the island. The Company has built accommodation facilities and turned the island into a dream holiday destination recording economic activities, everything seems to begin and end at the major trading center in Bufuka Village. The major economic activities in the Lake are subsistence fishing and farming. Large scale fishing has been limited because of the deep waters which do not allow the major species like Tilapia and Nile Perch to thrive. These species need shallow waters for breeding. The most successful species are the Cray fish (introduced from the US) and mud fish. Various attempts have been made to introduce the other major species right from the colonial but with little success. At one time 80 percent of the introduced species died as a result of a chemical mixing caused by flooding. Please check out our 3 Days lake Bunyonyi Tour Package. If you want to combine a tour of Lake Bunyonyi with gorilla trekking, you might find our 3 days gorilla tour and Lake Bunyonyi package more interesting.
Things to do in Lake Bunyonyi
Apart from marveling at the beautiful scenery on arrival, there are a lot of interesting activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi.
Relaxing and chilling out with loved ones:
The beautiful scenery and cool weather is perfect for relaxing after tiring activities like tracking the gorillas, climbing mountains or doing game drives in Uganda’s national parks. If you have a good book and wish to read it in a cool and serene environment, then one of the quiet island resorts would be perfect. Food is plenty and consists of local vegetables and fruits as well as international dishes. The crowning moment is watching the Lake Bunyonyi sunset. The setting of the sun provides an opportunity to take beautiful photos of the sun’s rays reflecting on the lake waters.
Swimming:
Lake Bunyonyi is a clean lake with clear waters that are free from pollution due to the absence of fishing sites on the lake shores. The lake waters are free from crocodiles, hippos and parasites that cause Bilharzia. Bilharza is a common disease in some of the water bodies in East and Southern Africa. The only disadvantage with swimming on the lake is the depth. Lake Bunyonyi is believed to be the second deepest lake in Africa. Those who are not good swimmers should take caution and instead use the hotel swimming pools.
Canoeing:
Canoes are the only way of getting around the lake and its islands. The locals make the canoes by digging into large trees to create a depression using axes to create a depression. The canoes are moved using rowing sticks or motor engines. Canoes can be rented from individuals at the shores for a fee of 60,000 shillings. The ones with engines can go for 120,000 shillings. Using these locally made canoes offers a completely different experience and adds to the magic of the Lake. The best time for canoeing is early in the morning when the lake is covered with mist. This is a beautiful sight to behold for anyone with a love for nature and adventure. Night canoeing can also be arranged to experience the cool night breeze and sounds from night crickets, frogs and birds.
Island hopping:
Canoeing for 2 or more hours allows you to hop from one island to another while learning about their history. Visiting the “punishment island” where girls who lost got pregnant before marriage where left to die is a must. You can visit Bwama and learn about its history of hosting lepers. The lepers are no longer taken to the island as a permanent cure for leprosy was discovered. The leper hospital has been turned into a school for children.
Community and Cultural Visits:
One of the most popular activities is taking a walk to observe how the local people go about with their daily lives near the shores of the lake. It is great to mingle with the locals and try out tasks like digging the garden with local hoes or visiting one of the local schools to interact with the school children. The Bachiga love taking marwa and obushera – two potent drinks made from bananas and millet/sorghum. If you feel intimidated trying the local stuff, you can go for the factory made and bottled Uganda Waragi. Another alternative is to go and visit the Batwa people. The Batwa in this part of Uganda where removed away from the Echuya Forest and allocated land near the lake. Like their relatives in other areas like Bwindi, Mgahinga and Virunga National Park, the Batwa have failed to adjust to life outside the They struggle to make ends meet considering that they are former hunters and gatherers. They earn a living is by entertaining tourists and demonstrating their cultural heritage through dance, songs and storytelling.
Nature Walks:
If one is not interested in the community walks, they can hike through established trails accompanied by a guide to explore and marvel at the terraced hills which give majestic views of the lake and towering landscapes. Visitors can also visit the ancient bamboo forest of Echuya or the other small ones surrounding the lake and spot small primates and zebra.
Mountain Biking:
One of the best ways of discovering the lake is by hiring a mountain bike and ride to the spot the beautiful landscape while passing by human settlements. Many of the hotels do not have bike rental services but your tour company can make the necessary arrangements and have a bike at your disposal.
Visit the local market.
The local market of Rutindo attracts residents of the island every Monday and Friday. On these two days, the market is filled with people. It is a perfect place to observe how locals go about with their daily life while also mingling with them and buying fresh fruits.
Birdwatching:
Lake Bunyonyi is a birders paradise and one of the best places to go birding in Uganda. The name Bunyonyi suggests a place with birds. Over 205 species of birds can be spotted in the lake. The small islands in the lake act as sanctuaries and breeding grounds for many water birds. The species include both resident and those that migrate from Europe during the harsh winters. One of the best birding spots is the swamp of Nyombi. The best way to see the birds is by acquiring a boat, a binoculars and moving to the water with a birding guide. Some of the species include egrets, slender-billed baglafetch, weaverbirds, herons, grey crowned cranes and the levillant cuckoo among many others.
Eating Crayfish:
Uganda’s infamous military dictator Idi Amin had his positive sides too. One of it was endorsing the introduction of the Louisiana Crayfish to Lake Bunyonyi. Cray fish have been so successful that they have become the dominant specie in the lake and surrounding water bodies. All the lodges and restaurants serve crayfish. If one is not interested in the Cray fish, they can order for the tasty local Tilapia fish.